John Watts (composer)
Encyclopedia
John Everett Watts, Jr. was an American
composer of electronic music
throughout the 1970s and 1980s. One of the medium's main advocates and teachers, Watts wrote about new music, experimenting with literary composition and journalism. Watts worked extensively with his wife, Laura Foreman, on performance art and dance pieces. Together, they formed the Composers and Choreographers Theatre, "an entity that quickly grew into a nationally recognized venue for contemporary dance and music in New York City
."
From 1969 until 1982, Watts was a faculty member at the New School for Social Research in New York City. While there, he directed the Electronic Music Program and coordinated music workshops, concerts, and festivals.
. He received a Bachelor of Arts
degree (Music Composition) from University of Tennessee
(1949) and commenced working on a Masters Degree there. However, with the outbreak of the Korean War
he was drafted into the US Army (1950). He received a medical discharge from the Army in 1951.
Returning from the Army, Watts applied for and received a music scholarship to University of Colorado
, where he received a Master of Arts
degree (Music) in 1953. He transferred to University of Illinois to pursue a Doctorate
in Music Composition, but moved to Cornell University
when his principal advisor (Robert Palmer) left Illinois for Cornell. Before completing the degree requirements Watts took a leave of absence and taught Music at North Dakota Agricultural College
in Fargo for a year (1956-57).
After Fargo, Watts studied music and composition, both independently and under the tutelage of Roy Harris
. By 1964 he was ready to return to Cornell to complete the Ph.D., but his application was rejected.
. While working on his MA degree in Colorado he received the Thomas Berry Prize for Composition (1950). His study of music became intertwined with studies of painting and drawing, which apparently began when he met Charles Ragland Bunnell
in Colorado. At a 1950 summer music festival Watts became acquainted with Roy Harris
, who encouraged Watts to concentrate on composition. After the year of teaching in Fargo, Watts sought private studies with Harris (who was at Indiana University
at the time). In 1958 (while studying with Harris) Watts began work on his Sonata for Piano, which was eventually given a Carnegie Hall
premiere by David Del Tredici
. Watts attended the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (San Germán) during part of the 1960-61 academic year.
In 1962 Watts moved to New York City
to teach in the Waltann School of Creative Arts (in Brooklyn), and at the North Shore Community Arts Center. It was during this time that he met dancer-choreographer Laura Foreman, whom he married in 1963 at Los Angeles, California
. It was his third marriage (her first).
Watts continued to study informally with Harris as opportunity allowed. In 1964 Watts received a residency at Yaddo Arts Colony. When his 1964 re-application to Cornell University was rejected, Watts rekindled his interest in journalism, taking a post as editor of the weekly Manhattan East News (1965-67). He also taught music at Eron Preparatory School (1965-66), and edited The Journal of Prayer, a nondenominational inspirational publication (1967-70).
Watts founded the Composers Cooperative Society (1964), an organization dedicated to presenting concerts of new music. After his marriage, he and Foreman blended his program and her Laura Foreman Dance Company, calling the combined effort The Composers and Choreographers Theatre. It rapidly grew into a nationally recognized venue for music and dance. It was established as a non-profit corporation, and set up an artist-in-residence program in conjunction with the New School for Social Research. Watts served on the faculty of that school from 1969 until 1982, running the Electronic Music Program.
while working with Gershon Kingsley
in the 1960s. Watts acquired a synthesizer in 1970 (an ARP String Synthesizer
), giving his first public concert with it in 1972 (Elegy to Chimney: In Memoriam was the initial piece).
Watts and Foreman worked to receive publicity, to help generate funding sources. The greatest publicity they received was for an event which did not occur. A July 1981 article in the New York Times shows a poster of the Watts/Foreman presentation Wallwork with a “Sold Out” sign printed across the center. Not happening was the point of the concert, which was advertised—with ticket prices, date, time, and reservation telephone number— on posters all over New York City. When people called the number, they were told that no further names were being added to the waiting list. It was a hoax, though nobody was cheated out of any money. Newspaper writer Jack Anderson called the stunt “nutty and annoying” but said that “it does raise questions about the relationship between art and publicity.”
and the Brooklyn Philharmonic
’s “Meet the Moderns” series. It featured video footage by Laura Foreman, with electronic music tracks and orchestra. A test premiere at Cooper Union
(2 April 1982) was well-received, but the actual premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (3 April 1982) was not. This setback apparently combined with his loss of the teaching post from the New School, which occurred at about that same time, to drive Watts into a depressed state, and he died three months later.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
throughout the 1970s and 1980s. One of the medium's main advocates and teachers, Watts wrote about new music, experimenting with literary composition and journalism. Watts worked extensively with his wife, Laura Foreman, on performance art and dance pieces. Together, they formed the Composers and Choreographers Theatre, "an entity that quickly grew into a nationally recognized venue for contemporary dance and music in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
."
From 1969 until 1982, Watts was a faculty member at the New School for Social Research in New York City. While there, he directed the Electronic Music Program and coordinated music workshops, concerts, and festivals.
Biography and education
Watts was born in Maryville, TennesseeMaryville, Tennessee
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
. He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree (Music Composition) from University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
(1949) and commenced working on a Masters Degree there. However, with the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he was drafted into the US Army (1950). He received a medical discharge from the Army in 1951.
Returning from the Army, Watts applied for and received a music scholarship to University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, where he received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree (Music) in 1953. He transferred to University of Illinois to pursue a Doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Music Composition, but moved to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
when his principal advisor (Robert Palmer) left Illinois for Cornell. Before completing the degree requirements Watts took a leave of absence and taught Music at North Dakota Agricultural College
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
in Fargo for a year (1956-57).
After Fargo, Watts studied music and composition, both independently and under the tutelage of Roy Harris
Roy Harris
Roy Ellsworth Harris , was an American composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No...
. By 1964 he was ready to return to Cornell to complete the Ph.D., but his application was rejected.
Musical career
Watts had studied music since his early teens, beginning with learning to play the clarinetClarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
. While working on his MA degree in Colorado he received the Thomas Berry Prize for Composition (1950). His study of music became intertwined with studies of painting and drawing, which apparently began when he met Charles Ragland Bunnell
Charles Ragland Bunnell
Charles Ragland Bunnell , was an American painter, printmaker, and muralist. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1915 and was thereafter associated with that city. As a WPA artist from 1934 to 1941 he executed many commissioned murals in a sturdy, somewhat abstracted figurative style...
in Colorado. At a 1950 summer music festival Watts became acquainted with Roy Harris
Roy Harris
Roy Ellsworth Harris , was an American composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No...
, who encouraged Watts to concentrate on composition. After the year of teaching in Fargo, Watts sought private studies with Harris (who was at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
at the time). In 1958 (while studying with Harris) Watts began work on his Sonata for Piano, which was eventually given a Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
premiere by David Del Tredici
David Del Tredici
David Del Tredici, born March 16, 1937 in Cloverdale, California, is an American composer. According to Del Tredici's website, Aaron Copland said David Del Tredici "is that rare find among composers — a creator with a truly original gift...
. Watts attended the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (San Germán) during part of the 1960-61 academic year.
In 1962 Watts moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to teach in the Waltann School of Creative Arts (in Brooklyn), and at the North Shore Community Arts Center. It was during this time that he met dancer-choreographer Laura Foreman, whom he married in 1963 at Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. It was his third marriage (her first).
Watts continued to study informally with Harris as opportunity allowed. In 1964 Watts received a residency at Yaddo Arts Colony. When his 1964 re-application to Cornell University was rejected, Watts rekindled his interest in journalism, taking a post as editor of the weekly Manhattan East News (1965-67). He also taught music at Eron Preparatory School (1965-66), and edited The Journal of Prayer, a nondenominational inspirational publication (1967-70).
Watts founded the Composers Cooperative Society (1964), an organization dedicated to presenting concerts of new music. After his marriage, he and Foreman blended his program and her Laura Foreman Dance Company, calling the combined effort The Composers and Choreographers Theatre. It rapidly grew into a nationally recognized venue for music and dance. It was established as a non-profit corporation, and set up an artist-in-residence program in conjunction with the New School for Social Research. Watts served on the faculty of that school from 1969 until 1982, running the Electronic Music Program.
Composition of electronic music
Watts established one of the first university electronic music/synthesizer programs in the country. He learned of the Moog synthesizerMoog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
while working with Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley a contemporary German American composer, is well known as a pioneer of electronic music and the Moog synthesizer and founder of the First Moog Quartet, as a partner in the famous electronic music duo Perrey and Kingsley, and for his rock-inspired compositions for Jewish religious...
in the 1960s. Watts acquired a synthesizer in 1970 (an ARP String Synthesizer
ARP String Synthesizer
The ARP String Synthesizer, also known as the ARP Solina String Synthesizer or sometimes the Solina String Synthesizer, is an ARP Instruments, Inc. synthesizer. It is a hybrid model which combined both the ARP String Ensemble and the ARP Explorer monophonic synthesizer. It was built in Bodegraven,...
), giving his first public concert with it in 1972 (Elegy to Chimney: In Memoriam was the initial piece).
Director
During the 1970s Watts tried to wear several hats: composer, soloist (on synthesizer), director of the Composers Theatre, director of Electronic Music Program at the New School. The most significant drain on his time was the Composers Theatre; he and Laura worked tirelessly to obtain and maintain funding for its projects. The measure of his success is seen in that during his tenure the CCT presented the works of over 200 composers, founded the Composers Festival Orchestra, and produced 3 LP recordings.Watts and Foreman worked to receive publicity, to help generate funding sources. The greatest publicity they received was for an event which did not occur. A July 1981 article in the New York Times shows a poster of the Watts/Foreman presentation Wallwork with a “Sold Out” sign printed across the center. Not happening was the point of the concert, which was advertised—with ticket prices, date, time, and reservation telephone number— on posters all over New York City. When people called the number, they were told that no further names were being added to the waiting list. It was a hoax, though nobody was cheated out of any money. Newspaper writer Jack Anderson called the stunt “nutty and annoying” but said that “it does raise questions about the relationship between art and publicity.”
Final years and death
Watts' last performed work (Time Coded Woman), was written for Lukas FossLukas Foss
Lukas Foss was a German-born American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Music career:He was born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922. His father was the philosopher and scholar Martin Fuchs...
and the Brooklyn Philharmonic
Brooklyn Philharmonic
The Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, commonly known as the Brooklyn Philharmonic, is an American orchestra based in the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City...
’s “Meet the Moderns” series. It featured video footage by Laura Foreman, with electronic music tracks and orchestra. A test premiere at Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
(2 April 1982) was well-received, but the actual premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (3 April 1982) was not. This setback apparently combined with his loss of the teaching post from the New School, which occurred at about that same time, to drive Watts into a depressed state, and he died three months later.